Soaring gasoline prices frustrate motorists, dealers

Gasoline prices that are climbing faster than the Megabucks jackpot are frustrating both motorists and dealers in northern Nevada.

"This is ridiculous," Jackie Lowe of Reno said. "Ten dollars used to fill half the tank. Now it fills a quarter. What's this going to do for our economy this summer with tourists?"

The impression that prices are jumping as much as a penny a day are borne out by spot checks made by the Reno Gazette-Journal and the Nevada Appeal.

Reno's price is averaging $1.86 for a gallon of unleaded regular, up 35 cents since Feb. 15. Carson City has increased 40 cents a gallon over the same month to $1.82. The statewide average is $1.78, up 30 cents.

"We could see it cap out over the next few weeks," according to Steve Yarborough, president of the Nevada Gasoline Retailers Association. But he said there won't be much improvement before summer.

"I've been selling gas for 18 years and I've never seen it this bad," Mohammed Ahmad, owner of the Eagle Gas and Gas and Save stations in Carson City, said Tuesday.

Ahmad said he is paying more for gas with each delivery.

"There's nothing the oil companies can do about it. They all are paying the same price for oil," said Jeff Arneson, who's assistant manager of his father Al's A&C Texaco station in Carson City.

John Dunbar, a 19-year-old student at the University of Nevada, Reno, said the prices are making his commute painful and have canceled his plans to buy a truck.

"I can't afford it. I'll have to buy a car," he said.

In Carson City, Arneson said his customers are not cutting back on how much gas they buy, but many are downgrading from premium to unleaded or unleaded plus.

Ahmad said that people are beginning to buy less gas at his stations, but that March usually is a slow month for his business.

"The tourism season has not started yet, people are still paying their Christmas bills and taxes are coming up," he said.

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